HIV is a lifelong condition. There is no cure for it, but effective treatment options are widely available. Because anyone can get HIV, that's why it's so important to get tested.
Everyone should be tested for HIV at least once in their life. However, some people should be tested at least once a year:
- Men who have sex with men
- People who have sex with someone whose HIV status they don't know or who is HIV positive
- People who use needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs
- People who have exchanged sex for money
- People who found out they have another sexually transmitted infection
- People who found out they have hepatitis or tuberculosis
If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, it's a good idea to get tested as soon as you can. Contact your doctor right away to get tested. Your doctor may also be able to give you HIV medicine to help prevent you from getting too sick if you do have HIV.
Even if your test comes back negative, it's important to test a second time. This is because you might have been exposed to HIV before the test is able to see evidence of HIV in your blood. While you're waiting for your test results, use condoms during sex and don't share needles when injecting drugs. This will lower your risk of spreading HIV to others.
Also, if you are concerned about having HIV and test negative and meet certain criteria, you can talk to your doctor about taking a prevention pill -- i.e., PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) -- to prevent HIV infection.
If you receive a positive test result, it's important to visit your doctor or sexual health clinic right away. They will give you medicine to lower your risk of spreading HIV. They will also test your blood at future appointments to see how well the medicine is working.
People diagnosed with HIV can live long lives, but it's important to go to all your doctor appointments and keep taking your medicine. Your doctor is your best partner to help manage your condition, and will be with you every step of the way.
"Medical Journeys" is a set of clinical resources reviewed by physicians, meant for the medical team as well as the patients they serve. Each episode of this journey through a disease state contains both a physician guide and a downloadable/printable patient resource. "Medical Journeys" chart a path each step of the way for physicians and patients and provide continual resources and support, as the caregiver team navigates the course of a disease.
